Seniors return principal's 'lost marbles' during commencement

Published 12:10 pm, Saturday, May 31, 2014

Rogers holds a jar of marbles collected from many of the 320 seniors as they were presented their diplomas.

Rogers holds a jar of marbles collected from many of the 320 seniors as they were presented their diplomas.

Image 2 of 2

Doug McDonough/Plainview HeraldTaivia Hearn holds her diploma after receiving a hug and congratulatory handshake from Plainview High Principal Tye Rogers during Plainview High School’s 2014 Commencement on Friday. less

Doug McDonough/Plainview HeraldTaivia Hearn holds her diploma after receiving a hug and congratulatory handshake from Plainview High Principal Tye Rogers during Plainview High School’s 2014 Commencement on ... more

Seniors return principal's 'lost marbles' during commencement

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

If Plainview High School Principal Tye Rogers needs some recreation this summer, he can always go outside for a game of marbles — thanks to the PHS Class of 2014.

“They wanted to give me the marbles they thought I had lost this year,” he joked while holding a jar filled with the glass orbs moments after the last of the 320-member senior class received their diplomas Friday night at Wayland’s Hutcherson Center.

Most of the senior class handed a marble to Rogers as they shook hands after receiving their diploma from School Board President Brandon Brownlee.

“That’s one of the things that make this senior class so special,” Rogers said following the ceremony. “They found a harmless way to have a little fun during a very serious occasion. You’ve just got to love them.”

Still holding the jar of marbles, Rogers concluded Friday’s ceremony by noting, “Each year I marvel at the talents and abilities of our seniors. Each year I wonder how we will ever replace our seniors. Somehow we always find new senior students who blossom and develop to show their talents, but the Class of 2014 has left enormous shoes to fill.”

Speaking directly to the graduates, Rogers added, “Our expectations for you were very high, and you have surpassed them time and time again. I cannot have been more blessed by any student body or group of seniors. You are second to none.”

Many of this year’s seniors wore broad white collars over their gowns, with the initials of their future college, technical school or branch of the armed services monogrammed on back. The collars are a tradition started three years ago, and funded by donations from Wal-Mart Distribution, Plainview Area Texas Tech Ex-Students Association and Wayland Baptist University. Rogers noted that 54 percent of this year’s senior class already has received letters of acceptance and will continue in some type of post-secondary education.

The Class of 2014 includes 44 honor graduates, about twice as many as customary. To qualify for that honor, Rogers said, students must maintain a 5.0 GPA or higher throughout their high school career.

One of those honor graduates is Jacob Naron, who addressed his classmates as salutatorian.

“Today marks both the end and the beginning of a journey,” Naron said. Enumerating some of the life-lessons he learned in kindergarten and grade school which have carried over to his high school career, Naron reminded classmates to “share everything . . . don’t hit . . . wash before you eat . . . flush . . . watch for traffic . . . hold hands . . . stick together . . . always put your toys back when you’re done . . . clean up your own messes.”

He also read a book from kindergarten about a child’s best friend, Anna Banana, moving away. That was to make the point that “even best friends say ‘good-bye.’ As we travel down the different hallways of life, never forget your old friends.”

Following Naron was Thomas Wirth, class valedictorian, who jokingly admitted misspelling the word “valedictorian” three times in a text message to his parents after learning he had earned the recognition.

Terming his family, teachers and fellow students “the ultimate support system,” Wirth called the Class of 2014 “an incredible group of individuals.”

He admitted that they have not won every game or match this past year, “but we competed as a family. I’ve always hated to lose more than I liked to win, and I encourage my classmates to continue to compete with the same attitude. We will face plenty of rough patches and roadblocks in life, but don’t let those times define you.”

He concluded by quoting from a poem he learned from his mother at a young age, “The man who wins is the man who thinks he can,” and encouraging the seniors “to continue to compete, and to believe in yourself.”

The 320-member senior class includes 46 students from Houston School. Principal John Gatica and Rogers congratulated their respective graduating seniors as their walked across the stage, shaking hands with each student as they momentarily paused for a photo opportunity during the ceremony.